[The clinical significance of connective tissue metabolism and of cellular and humoral factors in chronic pyelonephritis].

Overall 162 patients with chronic pyelonephritis (CPN) were examined. The control group was made up of 47 practically healthy subjects. Conventional research methods were employed in the diagnosis of CPN. The status of the main substance of connective tissues and collagen structures was estimated by measurements of the content of glycosaminoglycans, hydroxyproline and their fractions in the blood serum and urine. Cellular and humoral immunity was also investigated. It has been established that in the presence of a clinical remission, the lack of the urinary syndrome, bacteriuria and acute-phase inflammation tests, glycoaminoglycanuria, hyperhexosemia, abnormal metabolism of collagen structures, and high concentration of IgA and IgM remained unchanged. The data obtained indicate that in patients with CPN, the changes of connective tissue metabolism, cellular and humoral immunity are of unidirectional nature, which can serve an objective enough criterion for the efficacy and duration of the treatment.